Aluminum Alloy & Grade Guide
Aluminium Alloy Series & Grade Reference Guide
Aluminium alloys are classified into internationally recognized 1xxx to 8xxx series, with each series defined primarily by its principal alloying element and resulting performance characteristics.
For manufacturers, fabricators and industrial buyers, selecting the right aluminium grade requires more than identifying the alloy number. Factors such as chemical composition, strength, corrosion resistance, formability, weldability, heat treatment, temper and available product form can significantly influence suitability for a particular application.
Belfort Materials supplies aluminium products across a wide range of alloy series, grades, tempers and product forms for industrial and manufacturing applications worldwide.
Aluminium Alloy Series Overview
Aluminium 1000–8000 Series, Grades, Tempers, Properties & Applications
| Series | Alloy Family | Typical Principal Alloying Content | Common Grades | Key Characteristics | Common Applications | Typical Product Forms |
| 1000 | Commercially Pure Aluminium | ≥99.0% aluminium | 1050, 1050A, 1060, 1070, 1070A, 1100, 1200, 1235, 1350 | Excellent corrosion resistance, very high electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent formability, relatively low strength | Electrical, chemical processing, heat exchangers, packaging, architectural applications | Sheets, coils, strips, foil, wire, conductor products. |
| 2000 | Aluminium-Copper | Copper typically ~2–6%; selected grades also contain magnesium and manganese |
2011,2014 2017 2024, 2124, 2219 |
High strength, good machinability, heat treatable, strong fatigue performance; lower corrosion resistance than some other series | Aerospace, automotive, defence, precision engineering | Plates, sheets, bars, rods, forgings, machined components. |
| 3000 | Aluminium-Manganese | Manganese typically ~0.3–1.5%; magnesium may also be present | 3003, 3004, 3005, 3104, 3105 | Good corrosion resistance, excellent formability and weldability, moderate strength | Roofing, building products, HVAC, heat exchangers, cookware, beverage packaging | Sheets, coils, strips, roofing products. |
| 4000 | Aluminium-Silicon | Silicon typically ~3–13%, depending on alloy | 4006, 4007, 4015, 4032, 4043, 4045, 4047 | Lower melting range, good wear characteristics, good fluidity, reduced thermal expansion in selected grades | Welding, brazing, heat exchangers, automotive components | Welding wire, brazing strip, clad sheet and specialty components. |
| 5000 | Aluminium-Magnesium | Magnesium typically ~0.5–5.5%; manganese may also be added | 5005, 5052, 5083, 5086, 5154, 5182, 5251, 5454, 5754 | Excellent corrosion resistance, good weldability, medium-to-high strength, excellent marine performance | Marine, transportation, automotive, tanks, pressure vessels, construction | Sheets, plates, coils, strips and tubes. |
| 6000 | Aluminium-Magnesium-Silicon | Magnesium typically ~0.4–1.5% and silicon ~0.2–1.5% | 6005, 6005A, 6060, 6061, 6063, 6082, 6101, 6262 | Excellent extrudability, good strength, corrosion resistance, weldability and machinability; heat treatable | Construction, architectural, automotive, transport, solar, machinery, electrical | Extrusion billets, profiles, structural sections, bars, rods, tubes and plates. |
| 7000 | Aluminium-Zinc | Zinc typically ~3–8%; commonly combined with magnesium and sometimes copper | 7005, 7020, 7022, 7050, 7075, 7175, 7475 | Very high strength, heat treatable, excellent performance in demanding structural applications | Aerospace, defence, performance automotive, engineering, sporting equipment | Plate, sheet, bar, rod, extrusions and forgings. |
| 8000 | Specialty Aluminium Alloys | Varies; may include iron, silicon, lithium, copper and other elements | 8006, 8011, 8014, 8021, 8079, 8090 | Application-specific characteristics ranging from excellent foil formability to lightweight high-strength performance | Packaging, pharmaceutical foil, electrical applications, specialty engineering | Foil, strip, sheet, electrical conductor products and specialty plate. |
Understanding Aluminium Tempers
The alloy grade identifies the chemical composition, while the temper designation describes how the material has been processed to achieve its mechanical properties.
Common temper families include:
| Temper | General Meaning |
| O | Annealed / soft condition |
| H | Strain-hardened |
| H14 / H24 | Common sheet and coil tempers |
| H32 | Strain-hardened and stabilized |
| T4 | Solution heat-treated and naturally aged |
| T5 | Cooled from forming process and artificially aged |
| T6 | Solution heat-treated and artificially aged |
| T651 | T6-type condition with additional stress relief |
Heat Treatable vs Non-Heat-Treatable Aluminium
| Series | General Classification |
| 1000 | Non-heat-treatable |
| 2000 | Heat-treatable |
| 3000 | Non-heat-treatable |
| 4000 | Depends on specific alloy |
| 5000 | Non-heat-treatable |
| 6000 | Heat-treatable |
| 7000 | Heat-treatable |
| 8000 | Depends on specific alloy |
International Aluminium Standards and Specifications
Belfort Materials supplies aluminium products according to internationally recognized EN, ASTM, AA, JIS, GB and other applicable standards, depending on alloy, product form, manufacturing process and destination market.
| Series | EU / European Designation | USA / AA Designation |
| 1xxx | EN AW-1050A, EN AW-1060, EN AW-1070A, EN AW-1085, EN AW-1200, EN AW-1350A, EN AW-1370 | AA 1050A, AA 1060, AA 1070A, AA 1085, AA 1200, AA 1350A, AA 1370 |
| 2xxx | EN AW-2007, EN AW-2011, EN AW-2014, EN AW-2017A, EN AW-2024 | AA 2007, AA 2011, AA 2014, AA 2017A, AA 2024 |
| 3xxx | EN AW-3003, EN AW-3004, EN AW-3005, EN AW-3103, EN AW-3105 | AA 3003, AA 3004, AA 3005, AA 3103, AA 3105 |
| 4xxx | EN AW-4017, EN AW-4115 | AA 4017, AA 4115 |
| 5xxx | EN AW-5005, EN AW-5010, EN AW-5018, EN AW-5019, EN AW-5052, EN AW-5083, EN AW-5086, EN AW-5186, EN AW-5454, EN AW-5456, EN AW-5754 | AA 5005, AA 5010, AA 5018, AA 5019, AA 5052, AA 5083, AA 5086, AA 5186, AA 5454, AA 5456, AA 5754 |
| 6xxx | EN AW-6005, EN AW-6005A, EN AW-6012, EN AW-6026, EN AW-6026LF, EN AW-6060, EN AW-6061, EN AW-6063, EN AW-6073, EN AW-6082, EN AW-6101A, EN AW-6101B, EN AW-6262, EN AW-6262A, EN AW-6262R | AA 6005, AA 6005A, AA 6012, AA 6026, AA 6026LF*, AA 6060, AA 6061, AA 6063, AA 6073, AA 6082, AA 6101A, AA 6101B, AA 6262, AA 6262A, AA 6262R* |
| 7xxx | EN AW-7020, EN AW-7022, EN AW-7075 | AA 7020, AA 7022, AA 7075 |
| 8xxx | EN AW-8006, EN AW-8011 | AA 8006, AA 8011 |
Aluminium Product Forms and Specifications
A quick reference to European EN and U.S. ASTM specifications for common aluminium product forms, including sheets, plates, extrusions, tubes, bars, forgings and foils.
| Product Form | Typical Alloy Series | Europe / EN Specification | USA / ASTM Specification | Typical Grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet | 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx, 8xxx | EN 485 series | ASTM B209/B209M | 1050, 2024, 3003, 5052, 5754, 6061, 7075 |
| Plate | 1xxx, 2xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx | EN 485 series | ASTM B209/B209M | 1050, 2024, 5083, 5754, 6061, 6082, 7075 |
| Coil | 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 8xxx | EN 485 series | ASTM B209/B209M, where product falls within sheet/plate scope | 1050, 3003, 3005, 5052, 5754 |
| Strip | 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 8xxx | EN 485 series | ASTM B209/B209M, subject to product dimensions/scope | 1050, 3003, 5005, 5052, 5754 |
| Extruded Profiles / Sections | Mainly 6xxx; selected 2xxx, 5xxx, 7xxx | EN 755 / EN 12020 series | ASTM B221/B221M | 6005A, 6060, 6061, 6063, 6082 |
| Extruded Bar & Rod | 2xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx | EN 755 series | ASTM B221/B221M | 2011, 2014, 6061, 6082, 7075 |
| Cold-Finished / Rolled Bar & Rod | 2xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx | EN 754 series | ASTM B211/B211M | 2011, 2024, 6061, 6082, 7075 |
| Extruded Tube | 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx | EN 755 series | ASTM B221/B221M for general-purpose extruded tube | 3003, 5052, 6060, 6061, 6063 |
| Drawn Seamless Tube | 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx | EN 754 series | ASTM B210/B210M | 3003, 5052, 6061, 6063 |
| Seamless Pipe / Seamless Extruded Tube | 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx | Applicable EN specification | ASTM B241/B241M | 5052, 5083, 6061, 6063 |
| Structural Profiles | Mainly 6xxx | EN 755 / EN 12020 | ASTM B308/B308M for applicable 6061-T6 structural profiles; ASTM B221/B221M for broader extrusions | 6005A, 6061, 6063, 6082 |
| Forgings | 2xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx | EN 586 series | ASTM B247/B247M | 2014, 2024, 6061, 6082, 7075 |
| Rolled / Forged Rings | 2xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx | EN 586 series | ASTM B247/B247M | 2014, 2024, 6061, 7075 |
| Foil | Mainly 1xxx, 3xxx, 8xxx | EN 546 series | ASTM B479 for annealed foil within its application/scope | 1100, 1235, 8011, 8079 |
| General Extruded Wire | Selected 1xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx | Product-specific EN | ASTM B221/B221M where applicable | Product dependent |
| Rivet / Cold-Heading Wire & Rod | Product dependent | Product-specific EN | ASTM B316/B316M | Product dependent |
| Electrical Bus Bar | Mainly 1xxx | Product-specific EN/IEC | ASTM B236/B236M | Electrical-purpose aluminium |
| Electrical Extrusions / Bus Conductors | 1xxx, selected 6xxx | Product-specific EN/IEC | ASTM B317/B317M | Electrical-purpose alloys |
| Heat Exchanger / Condenser Tube | Mainly 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx | Application-specific EN | ASTM B234 | Application dependent |
Available Aluminium Products at Belfort
Belfort Materials offer the following products under Aluminium portfolio:
Aluminium Billets
Aluminium Ingots
Aluminium Primary Foundry Alloy (PFA)
Aluminium Wire Rods
Aluminium - Hot Rolled Sheets
Aluminium - Cold Rolled Sheets
Aluminium Slab
